Bicycle



' y 9, 1941. G. LEMNSK. 2,250 05 BICYCLE Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

GEORGE LEWINSKI BY 1% a ATTORNEYS July 29, 1941. gwms 2,250,805

BICYCLE Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

INVENTOR.

220 GEORGE LEWINSKI ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1941 UNITED STATES} OFFICE BICYCLE.

George Lewinski, Toledo, Ohio, assignor, by mesne Hettrick Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio assignments, to the 3 Claims.

and refers more particularly to the frame constructions thereof.

Heretofore it has been customary in the manufacture of bicycles to build up the frames therefrom a number of pa at parts and to connect together such parts by suitable fittings or couplings. All this required many different forming operations and additional time and labor for assembling purposes.

In the present instance the fittings and couplings referred to have been dispensed with entirely and I have provided in place thereof an improved frame structure that comprises a minimum of parts; that can be more economically manufactured; that is strong and durable; and

that is pleasing in appearance.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a slight modification;

Figure 9 is a rear end view of the structure shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the front ground wheel, B is a steering fork straddling said wheel and having an upstanding tubular shank I, and C is an axle for said wheel journaled in the furcations of the fork B.

D is a tubular head receiving and forming a housing for the upstanding shank I, and E is a handlebar above the head and having a depending stem F fitting within and non-rotatably secured to the shank I.

G is therear ground wheel, and H is an axle therefor.

I is the frame embodying my invention extending between the head D and axle H and preferably comprising a pair of laterally spaced substantially eliptical members 2 and 3, respectively. Preferably each of said members 2 and 3 comprises a single length of tubing and a pressed metal plate such as 4. As shown, each length to the wheel of tubing is secured intermediate its ends, preferably by welding operations to the head D, while the ends 5 and 6 of each length of tubing are adjacent the axle H and are spaced slightly apart to permit movement of said axle therebetween. The plates 4 span the spaces between the ends Sand 6 of the tubing and are rigidly secured to the outer sides of said tubing. Located in the plates 4 between the spaced ends of the tubing are aligned, rearwardly opening slots 1 that receive the axle H, while projecting laterally outward from the plates at the lower edges thereof are lugs 8 that serve asstops for the arms 9 of a suitable stand J. for the rear end of the bicycle. Such stand J may, of course, be any suitable construction and the arms '9 thereof may be connected in any suitable manner to the plates 4'as, for example, .bythe pivots ID. A suitable mud guard .K for the rear wheel G is also supported by a brace 50 from the plates 4 and a tie bar 5I extending between and terminally secured to the members 2 and 3 of the frame. 7 g

The propelling mechanism for the bicycle pref erably comprises sprockets II and I2, respectively, a connecting chain I3, and cranks l4 and I5 provided with suitable pedals such as I6. As shown, the sprocket II isfixed to a shaft I'I journaled in a hanger I8, and the cranks I4 and I5 are fixed to opposite ends of said shaft. The hanger I8 is fixed, preferably by welding or brazing operations, to the members 2 and 3 of the frame and containssuitableball races I9 and 20 for the shaft IT. The sprocket I2 is fixed hub 2| between the plates 4. The chain I3 is trained about the sprockets I I and I2 and may be any suitable construction.

22 are adjusting bolts threadedly engaging lugs 23 and 24, respectively, on the plates 4 and bearing against nuts Even the axle H to take up slack in the chain I3.

The saddle S is supported upon the members 2 and 3 of the frame by cooperating clamps 26 and 27 and adjusting nuts 28 and 29. As shown, the supporting post 30 for the saddle engages aligned holes in the clamps 26 and 21 and is exteriorly threaded at its lower end for engagement with the nuts 28 and 29, the post 30 may be turned to position the seat or saddle S at the proper elevation relative to the frame, and the clamps 2B and 21 may be adjusted longitudinally of themembers 2 and 3 of the frame, as desired, to position the saddle Sat the proper point relative to the handlebars E and propelling mechanism of the bicycle.

28 and 29. By adjusting the nuts In Figures 8 and 9 I have illustrated a slight modification in which the ends a and 6a of each length of tubing forming the frame I are welded together and are just above and welded to the hanger [8a for the sprocket shaft l'la. As shown, the side elevational contour or curvature of the frame I is slightly different than that of the frame I, and the plates 4a are suspended from the lower portions 41) of the tubing instead of secured to the ends 5 and 6 thereof as in Figure 1.

Preferably the plates 4a are welded to the outer sides of the portions 417 of the tubing and have horizontal rearwardly opening slots la for the rear axle H. The elongated portion 40 of each plate above the slots la is provided at its rear end with an opening 4d for a suitable fastening element (not shown) for a brace such as that shown in Figure 1 for the mud guard K, and is provided intermediate its ends with a lug 8a that serves as a stop for the arms 9 of the stand J. Projecting laterally from each plate 4a at its forward end in alignment with the slot la is a lug 3 carrying an adjusting bolt 22a for the rear axle H to take up slack in a chain such as l3. If desired adjusting nuts 22b may be provided on the bolts 22a between the heads 220 of such bolts and the lugs 23a. Th ,with this construction the function and operation of parts are substantially the same as that set forth in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a bicycle, a load carrying frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated open loops, each consisting of a single length of tubing having opposite ends thereof at the rear end of the frame and spaced vertically apart to provide a substantially horizontal slot, the horizontal slots being in lateral alignment and of suflicient depth to permit an axle to pass therethrough between the ends of the tubing into the space within said loops, and means for supporting the axle within said loops including plates'having portions substantially conforming in curvature and secured in surface-to-surface relation to upright sides of the tubing above and below said laterally aligned slots and having inwardly offset substantially parallel upright portions within said loops provided with laterally aligned rearwardly openings slots registering with and forming forward extensions of the slots between the spaced ends of the tubing for receiving the axle aforesaid, said inwardly offset parallel upright portions resting upon and secured to adjacent top resting upon and supported by adjacent top porand apertured to receive fastening means for a portions of said tubing below the first mentioned slots.

2. In a bicycle, a load carrying frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated open loops, each consisting of a single length of tubing having opposite ends thereof at the rear end of the frame and spaced vertically apart to provide a substantially horizontal slot, the horizontal slots being in lateral alignment and of sufficient depth to permit an axle to pass therethrough between the ends of the tubing into the space within said loops, and means for supporting the axle within said loops including sheet metal stampings having portions secured to upright sides of the tubing above and below said laterally aligned slots and having inwardly offset substantially parallel upright portions within said loops provided with laterally aligned rearwardly opening slots registering with and forming forward extensions of the slots between the spaced ends of the tubing for receiving the axle aforesaid, the inwardly offset upright portions resting upon and supported by adjacent top portions of said tubing below the first mentioned slots.

3. In a bicycle, a load carrying frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated open loops, each consisting of a single length of tubing having opposite ends thereof at the rear end of the frame and spaced vertically apart to provide a substantially horizontal slot, the. horizontal slots being in lateral alignment and of sufficient depth to permit an axle to pass therethrough between the ends of the tubing into the space within said loops, and means for supporting the axle within said loops including plates having portions secured to upright sides of the tubing above and below said laterally aligned slots and having inwardly offset substantially parallel upright portions inside and outside said loops, the parallel portions inside said loops being provided with laterally aligned rearwardly opening slots registering with and forming forward extensions of the slots between the spaced ends of the tubing for receiving the axle aforesaid, the offset upright portions within said loops tions of the tubing below the first mentioned slots, the inwardly offset upright portions outside said loops being substantially in vertical alignment with the offset portions inside the loops fender brace and for a stand for the bicycle.

GEORGE LEWINSKI. 

